The Schuyler County Fair uses the phrase “Since 1941” in our logo, but the roots of our fair run much deeper than that. The first fair was held by the Schuyler County Agricultural Society in 1855, where Webster School is presently located in Rushville. 170 members contributed $1 apiece to start funding the first year. It was held there the first two years, held at the A.C. Edgar farm for one year, then in 1858 moved to the county farm, a half mile west of Rushville on 7 ½ acres. Following the 1900 fair, the association was broke, and there was no fair in Schuyler county for seven years.
In 1908 a new fair association was formed by issuing stock to 400 shareholders who paid $25 each. Ground was leased on the north edge of Rushville, a horse racing track constructed, an amphitheater, barns, and buildings were built. This is the same location and the same dirt track that the fair uses today. Things went well until the 1925 fair, financial hardship hit again, and the buildings were sold or torn down and about the only noteworthy thing taking place there was when it was used as a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in the 1930’s.
